The Pisco Sour

The War of the Pacific (1879-1883) between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia left deep marks on these countries.  Bolivia still contests its loss of a coastal port.  Peru lost its nitrate region.  Chile added to its territory.  The conflict runs deep enough that newly elected Peruvian President Ollanta Humala arrived in Chile last night to reassure his southern neighbor that he harbors no ill will.  A deeper feud between Chile and Peru than the War of the Pacific is about the origins of Pisco and the Pisco Sour.

Pisco, a strong, colorless grape brandy, was developed by Spanish settlers as an alternative to the imported orujo (a pomace brandy) from Spain.  The name refers to the conical-shaped pottery within which it is aged.  A Peruvian Province also bears the name.  Like Champagne and Tequila, there are legal disputes between Peru and Chile about who has the right to use the name in exportation of the product.

The Pisco Sour, then, is a cocktail containing pisco, lime juice, egg whites, simple syrup, and bitters.

The most humble of Chileans or Peruvians may be willing to concede that its neighbor "invented" pisco and the pisco sour, but they will insist also that their country "perfected" it!

As for me, I need to continue my analysis before I decide by examining both Peruvian and Chilean Pisco Sours!